Optimisation of Gardner and non data-aided early-late (λ = 1/2) timing error detection algorithms

The tracking performance of the Gardner algorithm and the non data-aided early-late (λ = 1/2) algorithm are made almost jitter-free in the presence of additive white-Gaussian noise. For this purpose, the newly developed combined tracking and parallel search (CTAPS) method has been adopted. Computer simulations show that the optimised algorithms maintain the correct timing error under the conditions that the original algorithms lose tracking. Unlike the bit error rate (BER) performance which is unacceptably high at low to medium signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) when using the original algorithms, the BER performance of the optimised algorithms is close to the theoretical results. A superior tracking performance, a very fast acquisition time, and a low complexity are the features of the optimised algorithms.